وَقَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتُمْ شُعَيْبًا إِنَّكُمْ إِذًا لَّخَـٰسِرُونَ 90
Translations
Said the eminent ones who disbelieved among his people, "If you should follow Shuʿayb, indeed, you would then be losers."
Transliteration
Wa qāla al-mala'u alladhīna kafarū min qawmihi la'in ittaba'tum shu'ayban innakum idhān lakhāsirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The chiefs and leaders of Shu'ayb's people who rejected faith warned their community that following Shu'ayb would lead them to ruin and loss. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents the arrogant elite's attempt to dissuade the common people from accepting the prophet's message through fear of economic and social loss, particularly regarding their fraudulent trade practices which Shu'ayb had condemned. This reflects a pattern throughout history where those with worldly power and vested interests in corruption resist prophetic reform.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the narrative of Prophet Shu'ayb (peace be upon him) and his people of Madyan, who were known for their dishonesty in commerce and measurement. The context shows the people's leadership actively opposing Shu'ayb's call to monotheism and ethical conduct, attempting to maintain their corrupt economic system. This is part of the broader Meccan surah theme demonstrating the various responses to divine guidance across different nations.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever among you sees a wrong, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart—and that is the weakest of faith.' (Sahih Muslim 49). This relates to the theme of righteous resistance to societal wrongdoing that Shu'ayb exemplified.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should recognize that resistance to truth often comes from those with vested interests in corruption and injustice, and should not be deterred by worldly threats or social pressure when standing for righteousness. The true loss belongs to those who reject divine guidance, not those who follow the prophets' message.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
And you do not resent us except because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they came to us. Our Lord, pour upon us patience and let us die as Muslims [in submission to You]."
۞ قَالَ ٱلْمَلَأُ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ مِن قَوْمِهِۦ لَنُخْرِجَنَّكَ يَـٰشُعَيْبُ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مَعَكَ مِن قَرْيَتِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِى مِلَّتِنَا ۚ قَالَ أَوَلَوْ كُنَّا كَـٰرِهِينَ
Said the eminent ones who were arrogant among his people, "We will surely evict you, O Shuʿayb, and those who have believed with you from our city, or you must return to our religion." He said, "Even if we were unwilling?
وَقَطَّعْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أُمَمًا ۖ مِّنْهُمُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحُونَ وَمِنْهُمْ دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ وَبَلَوْنَـٰهُم بِٱلْحَسَنَـٰتِ وَٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ
And We divided them throughout the earth into nations. Of them some were righteous, and of them some were otherwise. And We tested them with good [times] and bad that perhaps they would return [to obedience].
وَٱتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنۢ بَعْدِهِۦ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَّهُۥ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّهُۥ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ ٱتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا۟ ظَـٰلِمِينَ
And the people of Moses made, after [his departure], from their ornaments a calf - an image having a lowing sound. Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to a way? They took it [for worship], and they were wrongdoers.